Foot valve



FOOT VALVE A. E. GREENE Filed March 24. 1921 Il l//Nl #a E m Il I Il l if III'" 8 t lll Jan. 27, 1925.

Patented Jan. 2"?, i925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMBROSE E. GREENE, 0F COR-NING, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

GF ONE-HALE' TO E. V. KELLEY AND ONE-HALF TO F. B- CONNELL, BOTH OF PIED- i/IONT, oanrroania.

FOO'T VALVE.

Application led March 24, 1921,

To all /zrzom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, AMBRosn E. GREENE, a citizen Aof the lUnited States, residing at Corning, in the county of Tehama and State of California, have invented certain new yand useful Improvements in Foot Valves.

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to foot valves for pumping plants, and the like, and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple and eiiicient device of this character.

A further object is the provision 'of a simple and efficient valve arranged to prevent foreign material from holding the valve proper open. v

A further object is the provision of a valve in which the valve proper may be easily and quickly taken out and replaced in the valve body.

A further object is the provision of a foot valve in which the opening through the valve will be as large in cross area as the cross area of a suction pipe to which it is attached.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the valve opening will be wide open upon a minimum movement of the valve proper.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a foot valve for pumps embodying my invcntion;

Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a valve propel` used in the construction; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a check valve embodying my invention.

lily invention is particularly adaptable for application to foot valves of pumping mechanism, such as ordinarily used in drainage or any other places where water is pumped. Owing to its simplicity it can be manufactured at low cost and will have long life. y

In the drawing, I have indicated in Fig. 1 a valve body 5 indicated as being attached to the lower end of al suction pipe 6 of a pumping outfit, or the like. The valve seat 7 is shown as disposed at an angle to the axis of valve body 5 and provided with an Serial No. 455,259.

opening 8 through which water or other liquids may be drawn.

Disposed on the seat 7 is a valve proper made up of a member 9 having a leather or other soft material 10 between the member 9 and seat 7. On the under side'of member 10 may be fixed a plate 11 secured by bolts 12 to the member 9. The member 9 is preferably hinged so as to swing about one end thereof, and for this purpose 'is provided with hinge studs 13, or their equivalent. In the present instance the studs 13 are indicated as being formed integrally with the member 9, but it will be understood that the hinge pins or studs may be attached in any desirable manner.

I preferably mount the studs 13 in such a manner that the valve may not only swing on said studs, but also have limited movement slidable on the seat 7. ln the present exemplification of my invent-ion l indicate the studs 13 as being disposed in grooves 14 in the lateral walls of the valve body 5, and extending through the body 5 are screws 15 having their inner ends 16 extending into the grooves 14 so as to permit movement of the members 13 longitudinally of the hinge pocltets 14 between the lower ends of said `hinge pockets and the screw ends 1G. The

valve from the casing. It will be apparent that other mountings of the hinge of the valve may be arranged from the specific form shown, the essential feature being to permit swinging of the valve and at the same time permitting sliding movements thereof longitudinally of the shell 5. This sliding movement of the valve tends to displace or permits the displacement of any gravel or other foreign material which might be lodged between the valve and its seat when said valve is moved to closed condition. To facilitate this sliding action I preferably form a recess 17 at the hinge end of the valve so that when the latter starts to open water or other liquid may pass through recess 1T thereby tending to facilitate sliding the valve on its seat by the flow of Water through the opening 8.

The inclination ot' the valve seat7 will also facilitate Vpreventing the accumulation of gravel or other foreign material between the seat and valve during operation of the device. Also, by providing the seat angularly across the body 5I am enabled to make the opening 8 wider in one direction than in another cr oval in cross area and thereby provide the opening 8 so that it will be equal to or even `greater than the opening in pipe 6. This prevents any blocking of the passage of water through the valve seat. Also, by disposing the valve and seat in the manners herein shown and described the valve need not move through more than thirty to thirtylive degrees tol entirely uncover opening 8. This has the advantage ot preventing water from moving down pipe 6 to any great extent when the valve closes.

I have indicated a screen 18 attached to the body 5 over opening 8 and it will be understood that the screen 18 may bearranged in any desirable manner so as to screen the opening 8 or be omitted entirely when so desired. v

In Fig. 11 I have indicated my invention as being applicable to a. check valve and it will be understood that fronithe inclination of the valve seat and valve that the check valve may be used either as a horizontal or vertical check.

The seat Tmust necessarily be somewhat smooth on its side adjacent the valve and this seat, either in the form shown in Fig. 1 or 'in the form shown in Fig. 1, may be cast integrally with the body 5 when so desired or the side of the valve body containing the valve seat may be formed separately and machined in any desirable manner to obtain a proper valve seat and then secured in the body by welding, brazing, or any other desirable method.

The obround or oval opening 8 and the corresponding shape of the flapper provides a construction in which the valve canbe passed through the opening 8 or cut out through the opening in which pipe 6 is attached to remove the valve from the casing. It will be apparent that to remove the valve it will be only necessary to remove screws 15 and move the valve so as to slide the studs 13 along tothe ends and out of grooves 14, then move the valve out through opening 8 or the opening in which pipe 6 is attached. The valve may also be replaced in the reverse order of movements.

VMy invention may be embodied in a foot valve which is designed to be attached to the lower end of the suction pipe of a pumping plant and serves to allow the ingress of water or other liquid, but checks the back flow. ,T he invention may also be embodied in a check valve for either vertical, horizontal, or angular relations. Then embodied in a check valve provision is made at the sides of the valve for screwed pipe or ianged pipe connections.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the parts are easily accessible and removable. The l'lapper may be removed by unloosening the screws 15 which close the hinge pockets. The flapper may be removed through either the upper or lower openings without otherwise taking the valve mechanism apart.

The inclined position of the seat decreases the likelihood of gravel or other obstructive matter remainingl on the scat and holding the valve open. The valve is therefore more apt to seal effectively a` larger part of the time than valves in which the seat is at right angles to the length of the pipe.

The tendency of the valve to slam when closing and thus cause an injurious water jar is greatly reduced, due to the fact that the iiapper falls through only about thirty or thirty-tive degrees from the full open to the closed position, whereas, in ordinary valves the tiapper :falls ninety degrees, thus allowing the column ot' water to attain a greater momentum with a correspondingly greater j ar when the valve Stops it.

The design of my improved valve mechanism is such that the entrance head losses are reduced to a minimum by reduction of friction, due to the tact that when the water enters the bottom part it is not deflected by the iiapper, but immediately flows longitudinally of the pipe.

My improved valve mechanism is particularly applicable to irrigation pumps due to the fact Ythat the outside diameter of the valve may be reduced to the limit required to provide strength for the threaded portion without restricting the area ot the entrance part. The shape of the valve allows thc construction of a lower opening equal to or greater in area than the area of the pipe to which the valve is attached, as hercinbe'forc explained.

This valve in the form of Fig. l. is particularly adaptable for the lower ends of suction pipes oi drainage pumps and thi` like. In such pumping a1.)pai 'atus considerable foreign matter will be encountered in the water such as gravel and the lilic. By mounting the valve and its seat at an angle the gravel and other toreign material will tend to move off the valve seat when the valve is being closed. This sliding motion of the valve further facilitates the movement of foreign material from the valve seat in closing the valve.

The valve casing as shown in Fig. 1 is pointed to substantially a sharp point and makes the device adaptable for inserting the lower end of the suction pipe of pumpllH ing apparatus into water and gravel or other loose solid substances. The positioning of the valve seat on one of the outer walls of the casing provides a casing in which there is no housing or corners to catch gravel, sand or the like wheninserting the suction pipe into a mixture to be pumped. These features are all accommodated by the particular form of valve shown.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and a1'- rangement oll parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not to be limited to the precise construction herein disclosed.

I claim:

l. A valve comprising a casing; a valve seat in the casing; and a valve pivoted in the casing adjacent said valve seat and having limited sliding movement on said seat.

2. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat and hinge pockets; and a valve on said seatand having pivot members mounted for swinging and limited longitudinal movements in said hinge pockets.

3. A valve comprising a casing having` a valve seat and grooves adjacent said valve seat; a valve on the valve seat having pivot pins disposed in said grooves; and removable stops in said grooves limiting movements ot' said pivot pins in said grooves.

4f. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein and an opening through said seat; a valve on said valve seat; and a hinge connection between said valve and said casing providing pivotal and limited sliding movements of said valve with respect to said seat.

A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat disposed diagonally across it.; and. a valve pivoted to said c-asing at one side of the valve seat, there being a. recess in said valve permitting a passage for fluid upon slight movement of said valve from said seat.

G. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat therein; a valve disposed on said seat and having a recess in one side thereot; and a hinge connection between said valve and said casing adjacent said recess and permitting both pivotal and limited sliding movement of said valve with respect to said valve seat.

7. A valve comprising a casing having grooves therein and a valve seat adjacent said grooves; a valve having pivot members disposed in said grooves; and screws mounted in said casing and extending into said grooves adapted to limit the movement of said pivot members in said grooves.

8. A valve comprising a casing having grooves therein with shrulders at the ends of said grooves; a valve seat in said casing adjacent the shoulders of said grooves; a valve having pivot members disposed in said grooves adjacent said shoulders; and removable stops in said grooves holding said pivot members in the latter.

9. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat disposed at an acute angle to the axis of said casing and having an oval opening in cross area in said seat; a valve pivoted at the lower side of said opening and adapted to be held by gravity against said valve seat; and a pivotal connection between the valve and casing permitting pivotal and sliding movements of said valve with respect to said valve seat.

l0. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat with an oval opening therethrough; a valve proper substantially oval in shape disposed on said valve seat; and a hinge connection between the valve and casing comprising angular grooves in the casing and hinge studs on the valve disposed within said grooves; said valve being adapted for sliding movement on its seat with the hinge studs sliding in portions of said grooves and said valve being adapted for movement away from said seat upon the studs moving through other portions of said grooves.

11. A foot valve comprising a casing tapering generally toward one end with a valve seat on the inner side of an outside Wall of said casing, and a valve mounted in the casing on said valve seat.

l2. A foot valve comprising a casing having a substantially sharp point at one end with a valve seat in one outer wall of the casing, and a valve operatively mounted on the valve seat.

13. A foot valve comprising a casing having one side plain and disposed at an acute angle to an opposite side of such casing with an opening through said angular plain side, a valve seat around said opening; and a valve mounted on the valve seat.

14. A foot valve comprising a casing having one side disposed at an acute angle to an o-pposite side of the casing and an opening wider in one direction than in another in said plain side; a valve seat on the inner side of said wall around said opening; and a valve operatively mounted on said valve seat and adapted 'for passing through said seat.

l5. A foot valve comprising a casing having a valve seat; and means for confining said valve to a sliding movement on said seat and to a swinging movement to and from said seat.

1G. A foot valve comprising a easing having a diagonal wall with a valve seat in said wall; a valve pivoted at one side of the valve seat to said casing with means for disconnecting the pivotal connection of the valve with said casing.

17. A -foot vlv'e Comprising a oasir'ig hav- .'ifng 'a yxf'alvo s'eai; on one of "tswalis und hn? 'guan' 'goo'vs 11m/'ing pdiitio's Idispfied -pii'- all'el to the plane of Said 'V'alv fset A`and other portions 'extending away from said (valve seat; a Valve on said valve 'sat nd pivotal vmeans on vthe Valve 'seat Engaging Said 'goov''s 'and 'aafpted Yto nove in prts of 'Sid grooves Vto 'slide the valve on its Se'at, `and lmoans for confining "the ypivotal fcon'neo- 'tiono'f saidfvalve to portions of Said grooves,

SaidI cii'singl conduit comn'iunoating willi th stop of said casing, u plate arranged at fan urrgle `to the axis of Said casing "and foringthe bottoni wall therefor, said 4philo having 'n oblong opening therethrough, and ii Avalve arranged within said casing' 4and setd on the upper surface of sail] fp'lzic fdr closing said o ening.

In te'stimony Whreo I have signed my name to this specification on this 18th day "of lwarcln A. D, 1921.

AMBROS'E E. GREENE. 

